§ 2. Mr. MacLarenasked the Under-Secretary of State for India the present cadre of officers of the Indian Navy; the number of Indians included; and the rate of recruitment of Indians to this service?
Lord StanleyThe present cadre of commissioned officers of the Royal Indian Navy is 121, besides 22 midshipmen and cadets. There are at present II Indian officers and 12 Indian midshipmen and cadets. The rate of recruitment to the service varies somewhat from year to year; but 11 Indians have been recruited during the last three years.
§ 3. Mr. MacLarenasked the Under-Secretary of State for India the capital cost to the Government of India, and the estimated running cost, of the fleet of not less than six modern escort vessels to be maintained by the Government of India in consequence of His Majesty's Treasury agreeing to forego the annual payment of £100,000 hitherto made by the Government of India?
Lord StanleyThere are already five escort vessels in commission in the Royal Indian Navy; and the immediate action required is that of replacing one and adding another, as part of the arrangement recently made between the Government of India and His Majesty's Government. The question of the type of vessel to be supplied is still under consideration, and I am unable at the moment to give estimates of the capital or running costs.